Final Lecarrow Village Design Statement - Roscommon County ...

Lecarrow 

Village Design Statement 

2008

LECARROW VILLAGE DESIGN STATEMENT 

What is a VDS? 

A Village Design Statement (VDS) is 

produced by a local authority in 

partnership with the local community to 

identify the distinctive character of an area. 

It then sets out design guidance to help 

protect and enhance this distinctive 

character, and guide new development in 

that area. 

Local communities often feel they have 

little say in the development of their 

community, Lecarrow and other VDS offer 

a constructive solution to this dilemma. 

The VDS process provides an opportunity 

for local communities to look at the 

evolution of their villages and examine 

ways in which future development may 

occur in a balanced manner. This 

development should not detract from the 

distinctive character and natural beauty of 

the area. 

The Lecarrow VDS process will provide 

the people of Lecarrow with an opportunity 

to actively participate and influence the 

future development of their village. 

What is the purpose of a VDS? 

The purpose of the Lecarrow VDS is to 

ensure that future development in the 

village complements and enhances its 

existing character. 

This VDS addresses the character of the 

village and does not attempt to provide a 

myriad of design solutions. It’s 

recommendations should not be viewed as 

a hindrance to modern design, rather, the 

document highlights the unique qualities of 

architectural, historical and natural 

importance that contribute to the villages’ 

character. It provides broad design 

guidelines to safeguard both its distinctive 

character and enhance the quality of life 

within the village. 

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Who is this VDS for? 

The Lecarrow VDS aims to provide 

guidelines to ensure that all change is 

carried out in a manner which is in keeping 

with the existing character of the village, 

and is a valuable source of information for: 

• Local Households and Businesses 

• Local Community Groups 

• Builders, Developers, Architects, 

Designers, Engineers and Planners 

• Roscommon County Council and 

other statutory bodies 

Lecarrow VDS will operate as 

supplementary planning guidance and as 

such, its recommendations will be 

considered in the assessment of planning 

applications in the Lecarrow area. 

How has this VDS been produced? 

The Lecarrow VDS has been produced by 

Roscommon County Council in 

consultation with the Lecarrow 

community. This consultation included two 

public meetings, two steering group 

meetings, the distribution of questionnaires 

and submission forms as well as a schools 

project. 

The VDS for Lecarrow involved the 

following key stages: 

Stage 1: Information Gathering 

This stage was conducted through site 

visits and desktop analysis. Information 

was gathered about the village and 

photographs were taken in order to gain an 

insight into the character of the village 

including landscape setting, settlement 

pattern, buildings, spaces, service and 

facilities, roads and traffic. 

Stage 2: Community Consultation 

The first public meeting was held in St. 

John’s Community Centre on June 6 th 

2008. During this meeting, the purpose and 

process of Lecarrow VDS was introduced 

to the community. Group discussions were 

held to identify what the community felt 

were the key issues affecting the village 

and a Steering Group was formed. The aim 

of the Steering Group was to ensure that 

the community’s views are carried through 

the VDS process. 

Questionnaires and submission forms were 

distributed at the meeting and were 

available at key locations throughout the 

village. 

Following the Public Meeting a Feedback 

Report was produced which included all 

the information gathered to date. From this 

Report, the Steering Group prioritised key 

issues to be considered in the preparation 

of the Draft VDS. 

A schools project was also run, which 

involved the children of the St. John’s and 

Glanduff National Schools. The children 

were asked to contribute to this VDS by 

writing and drawing pictures of what they 

liked about their village. 

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Stage 4: Amendments & Publication of 

the Final VDS 

Stage 3: Preparation of the Draft VDS 

The Draft Lecarrow VDS was prepared in 

accordance with the views and concerns of 

the community raised at the public 

meeting, in the completed questionnaires 

and submission forms and the issues 

prioritised at the Steering Group meeting. 

This final VDS document contains the 

following sections: 

1. Introduction & Profile 

2. Village Context 

3. Village Character: Landscape Setting 

4. Village Character: Structure & 

Streetscape / Buildings & Details 

5. Community Concerns 

6. Potential Development / Design 

Guidance 

7. Village Enhancement 

8. Grants Available / Local Contacts 

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Location and Profile 

The village of Lecarrow is a rural village 

in South Roscommon, situated just off the 

N61 National Route between Athlone and 

Roscommon. It is approximately 17km 

northwest of Athlone Town and 

approximately 15km southeast of 

Roscommon Town. (See Map 1). It is 

situated adjacent to Lough Ree and is 

connected to it by Lecarrow Canal. 

Lecarrow is a quiet, attractive village with 

much to offer, from it’s pretty harbour and 

beautiful landscape to it’s traditional pubs 

and contemporary restaurant. Despite the 

increased pressure for development in 

South Roscommon in recent years, 

Lecarrow has managed to retain its historic 

and distinctly rural character. It has a 

vibrant heritage enriched by local features 

such as the Lecarrow Mill, Nellie’s Rock, 

the old Courthouse, the old Garda 

Barracks, St John’s Wood, Rindoon Castle 

and the Lecarrow Canal. 

Lecarrow is identified as a ‘Smaller 

Settlement’ (population range 50-300 

persons) within Tier 5 of the Settlement 

Strategy in the Roscommon County 

Development Plan 2008-2014. These 

Smaller Settlements act as nodes for 

“distinctive quality driven residential 

development and essential local 

commercial and community services”. It is 

envisaged that the future growth of these 

villages should be safeguarded so that they 

do not act as catalysts to facilitate 

continuing expansion of larger urban 

centres. It is important that the existing 

character of the villages be maintained; 

that the local community’s needs in 

relation to future development is taken into 

consideration; and that new development 

should harmonise with the ‘old’ existing 

settlement form. 

The Historical Development of 

Lecarrow 

Lecarrow Village, ‘An Leath 

Ceathru’ (Half quarter) obtained its name 

from a pound which was located to the rear 

of the old Courthouse in the centre of the 

village. Traditionally, a pound was 

composed of a half rood of land or a 

quarter of an acre. The area referred to was 

only a half of a quarter of an acre, hence 

the name Lecarrow. Historically, this area 

was Lecarrow and the traditional name for 

the village was Knockanyconor. 

Historically, Lecarrow Village is located 

within 2 parishes, St. John’s and 

Knockcroghery. A number of townlands 

converge within the village including; 

Curraghalaher, Killoy, Knockanyconor and 

Galeybeg (see Map 6). 

Lecarrow, as it appears today, developed at 

the beginning of the 19 th century with the 

establishment of a Flour Mill close to the 

centre of the village, and a Corn Mill to the 

west in the vicinity of the local dolmen 

known as Nellie’s Rock. At the same time, 

two stone single arch bridges were 

constructed to allow traffic across the mill 

race. 

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By 1912, the village had expanded to 

include a Constabulary Barracks, 

Courthouse and Ball Alley. Following this 

however, like most villages after the Great 

Famine and during much of the twentieth 

century, its population dwindled 

significantly. This decline brought with it 

an erosion of services and by the end of the 

twentieth century, Lecarrow had lost its 

post office and corn mill, its flour mill and 

barracks had fallen into disuse, and its 

courthouse lay in ruins. 

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First Ordinance Survey Map of Lecarrow 

In 1837, Samuel Lewis in his 

Topographical Dictionary of Ireland, 

noted that there were 80 inhabitants in 

Lecarrow village with fairs being held in 

March, June, September and December, 

and petty sessions every alternate week. 

Prior to the 1920s, the lowest courts were 

called the petty sessions. Lewis also noted 

the presence of the two mills and a 

dispensary in the vicinity of the village. 

The first edition Ordinance Survey Map 

also indicates a Post Office and Holy Well 

dedicated to St. John. 

By the end of the 18 th century construction 

had begun on Lecarrow Canal, which was 

completed in 1842. This canal flows into 

Blackbrink Bay connecting Lecarrow 

village with Lough Ree and the River 

Shannon. By 1850, Lecarrow Harbour was 

completed. Improved access between the 

village and Lough Ree allowed raw and 

processed materials to be transported by 

water from Lecarrow’s corn and flour mills 

and adjacent stone quarries in Galeybeg. 

As such, the harbour and canal played an 

important role in the area's industry and 

commerce. 

Second Ordinance Survey Map of Lecarrow 

Lecarrow has been lucky enough not to 

have seen the massive pressure for 

development experienced in other towns 

and villages throughout County 

Roscommon in the last ten years or so. The 

village has however, experienced a 

renaissance with an increase in residential 

development within and close to the village 

bringing new life into the village. With this 

has come a new energy for revitalizing and 

regenerating the village which can be seen 

in the actions of the local community and 

local authority alike. Roscommon County 

Council has approved a plan for the 

Harbour area which includes the 

development of boat pump out facilities, a 

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service block including toilets, a new 

slipway, a new road and playground 

facilities. This will bring increased services 

and opportunities for tourism development 

to the village. The community has shown a 

keen interest in restoring Lecarrow’s 

former glory with steps being taken to 

preserve and safeguard the Mill for future 

renovation, as well as plans for protecting 

and enhancing the Courthouse as an 

important piece of local heritage. 

Roscommon as a whole during the same 

time period. 

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Population 

Lecarrow Mill 

In the last 10 years the population of 

County Roscommon has increased by over 

10%. The 1996 Census indicated a 

population of 51,975 which increased to 

53,774 by the time of the 2002 Census, ( a 

3.5% increase). The 2006 Census again 

indicated a population increase to 58,700 

persons, (a 9.2% increase). 

For the Lecarrow District Electoral 

Division (DED) the 2002 Census indicated 

a population of 266, and 311 in 2006. This 

is a 16.9% increase which is quite a large 

population increase when compared to the 

9.2% population increase for County 

Lecarrow District Electoral Division 

However, Lecarrow DED covers a 

significantly larger area than Lecarrow 

village itself. Therefore, the An Post 

Geodirectory, a database of all current 

postal addresses within the County, has 

been used to establish the current 

population of Lecarrow Village. The 

Geodirectory is compiled by An Post and 

updated at three month intervals. The 

Geodirectory indicates that there are 21 

households located within the 50km/h 

speed limits of the village. With an average 

household size of 2.76 persons recorded in 

the 2006 Census for the County of 

Roscommon, this equates to a population 

of approximately 58 persons within the 

village. 

The Local Community 

Lecarrow has a dynamic local community 

with a variety of local groups active in the 

village. The Lecarrow Development 

Association has been active for over 15 

years and since then have done tremendous 

work in and around the village. They have 

helped to maintain the village character 

through projects which enhance the built 

and natural environment of the village. 

Projects include the restoration of many 

stone walls in the parish, a project which 

took four years to complete with help 

under a FAS scheme and funds raised by 

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Picnic Benches in front of Coffey’s Shop 

the Association through a raffle, donations 

from local businesses and events such as a 

sale-of-work. 

The Development Association have 

promoted Lecarrow’s participation in the 

Tidy Towns Competition since 1993. 

Improvements to landscaping, litter 

control, painting and general tidying of 

areas in the village have been made 

possible due to funds raised by their annual 

summer fete, held in conjunction with the 

local scouts and brownies, as well as with 

the aid of amenity grants. Lecarrow is also 

only one of four Roscommon villages 

entered into the Pride of Place Competition 

2008. 

Lecarrow has an active local heritage 

group, St John’s Parish Heritage Group. It 

has many local projects under its belt 

including two books, The Rindoon Journal 

Volumes 1 and 2, as well as the production 

of a names leaflet and a townland marker 

for the village. St John’s Heritage Group 

also care for two old graveyards in the area 

and maintain the local wells, including the 

running of the Pattern Mass. 

The old Courthouse 

Projects this year included an exhibition of 

school memorabilia from the turn of the 

20 th century to 1970 as part of Heritage 

Week 2008, which took place at St. John’s 

Community Centre and ran for several 

days. A current project is to regenerate 

the old Courthouse in the centre of 

Lecarrow Village. 

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Nellie’s Rock 

The Lecarrow Development Association 

was instrumental in the restoration of 

Nellie’s Rock. Nellie’s Rock forms part of 

an extremely interesting and attractive 

collection of megalithic structures close to 

the village and is protected under the 

National Monuments Act. 

Entrance to St John’s Soccer Club 

There are also a variety of sports and 

recreational opportunities in the village. St. 

John’s Soccer Club maintains two soccer 

pitches, including a new astro turf pitch to 

the north of the village. 

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There are opportunities for sailing and 

boating with excellent mooring facilities at 

Lecarrow Harbour in the centre of the 

village. The Harbour leads to Blackbrink 

Bay and Lough Ree via the Lecarrow 

Canal. With the adjacent car parking area, 

Bird Sanctuary and Wildlife Area, open 

spaces and green area, with plans 

underway for a new access road and 

slipway, boat pump out facility, a service 

block including showers and toilets, and a 

new children’s play area, it is clear that the 

Harbour will play an important part in the 

future development of recreation and 

tourism in the village. 

The hub of the village is located along the 

N61 and its junction with the L2007 local 

Coffey’s Bar and Grocery, 

The Yew Tree Restaurant 

road which passes through the rest of the 

village. Here local services include 

Coffey’s Bar and Grocery, and Kelly’s 

Bar. Further north lies the newly 

established Yew Tree Restaurant, which is 

a great asset to the village. Other local 

businesses include Coffey’s Agri-supplies 

and Lecarrow Pre-cast. 

St John’s Community Hall 

Local Community facilities include St. 

John’s Community Centre which has a 

large car park to the front, which ensures 

that there is adequate parking in the centre 

of the village. 

The local church, St. John’s Church, is 

located approximately one mile south of 

the village just off the N61. 

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Kelly’s Bar 

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St John’s Catholic Church


There is a Biodiversity farm in the area 

(near the old school) and the surrounding 

landscape is well suited to walking and 

cycling with views of Lough Ree along the 

road to St John’s Wood and Rindoon 

Castle nearby. 

Table 1: Local Services and Facilities 

Roads 

Entrance to Rindoon Castle 

Lecarrow Precast 

D.N.D. Designs 

Consulting Engineers 

Direct Medical Ltd. 

Medical Supplies 

Murphy's Limestone 

Quarry 

Broadband 

Bus Service 

St John's Athletics Club 

St John's National 

School 

St John's Catholic 

Church 

Local Businesses 

Local Services 

Community Facilities 

Kelly's Bar 

Coffey's Bar & 

Grocery 

Coffey's Agri Supplies 

Whelan's Limestone 

Quarry 

Bin Collection 

Recycling Facilities 

St John's Community 

Hall 

Glanduff National 

School 

Macra na Feirme 

Although traffic flow along the N61 is not 

a major issue in Lecarrow, turning out onto 

this road, from the village, can be 

extremely dangerous. The width and view 

of the L7609 road, where it joins the N61 

at Killiaghan bridge, is particularly blind 

when turning from the Roscommon 

direction onto this road. 

There is also an issue with speeding along 

the L2007 local road which passes along 

the length of the village and past St. John’s 

National School. Many members of the 

community feel that the speed limit on this 

road, from the village to the school, should 

be reduced, and traffic calming measures 

put in place throughout the village core. 

The main road through Lecarrow Village 

A welcome addition would be public 

footpaths and a better quality road surface 

to the main village area. The road surface 

is currently substandard and uneven which 

not only presents a poor image of the 

village to tourists but is dangerous to 

drivers, cyclists and pedestrians using this 

road. 

It is also considered that a footpath from 

the soccer pitches to St. John’s National 

School is essential as pupils regularly use 

the pitches for games and walk and cycle 

on the road. 

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Water Supply 

In terms of water supply, it is important to 

ensure an adequate and clean supply of 

water throughout the village. Several 

members of the local community have 

indicated that an upgrade in quality and 

pressure of the Lecarrow water supply is 

essential. There are currently issues with 

the water supply during hot weather and 

there are frequent stoppages. In October 

2006, Roscommon County Council 

conducted an assessment of needs for the 

development of the Knockcroghery / 

Lecarrow RWSS under the Water Services 

National Investment Programme. To date a 

new water supply has been sourced and the 

sites for two reservoirs purchased although 

there is currently no definite timeline for 

completion. 

Wastewater Services 

A new sewerage scheme has recently been 

commissioned in Lecarrow with a PE of 

approximately 300 persons. (see Table 2 

below) 

Table 2: Wastewater Capacity 

Connected Houses P.E. 78 

Connected Businesses P.E. 72 

Permitted Houses P.E. 43 

Total P.E. used 193 

Remaining P.E. 107 

The maximum design outlet limits are 

detailed in the Lecarrow Sewerage Scheme 

Volume 2 Appendix A. (see Table 3 

below) 

Table 3: Maximum Output Limits 

Parameter 

Biochemical Oxygen 

Demand 

Concentration 

mg / l 

10 

Total Suspended Solids 10 

Total Phosphorous 2 

Total Nitrogen 15 

The new scheme stretches from the old 

school in Killoy to St. John’s National 

School in Knockanyconor and on to the 

pumping station at Curraghalaher. 

Although it is acknowledged that the new 

sewerage network is a positive 

development in the village, it is currently 

working at around one-third capacity and 

there are issues with odours emanating 

from the system. Works are ongoing to 

eliminate the source of these odours and 

ensure that the new system is running as 

efficiently as possible. It is expected that 

any future development in the village will 

tie into the existing wastewater system. 

The remaining capacity on this system 

should be used to cover gradual village 

expansion over the next 7 to 10 years. 

Broadband 

Lecarrow currently has both DSL and 

wireless broadband. DSL broadband is 

supplied by companies such as Eircom, 

with wireless broadband being provided by 

Last Mile Broadband and Brisknet 

Broadband. Although broadband is 

available in the village, coverage varies 

throughout the village with poor reception 

in many places. 

Waste / Recycling 

Lecarrow householders are served by a 

weekly private waste collection service. In 

addition, there are 4 bring banks for glass 

and cans in the village located in the car 

park adjacent to Lecarrow Harbour. There 

is also a skip at the Harbour to cater for 

waste from boats and cruisers using the 

Canal, however there are regular incidents 

Bring banks at the Harbour car park 

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of people dumping household rubbish, 

litter etc. into this skip. With the likelihood 

of increased use of the harbour facilities 

once the new harbour plan is implemented 

litter facilities need to be reconsidered and 

upgraded. 

The skip at Lecarrow Harbour 

In addition to these facilities, there is a 

civic amenity site on the Lanesboro Road 

in Roscommon Town which caters for 

cardboard, newspapers, plastics, white 

goods and hazardous waste. There is a fee 

of €2.00 for this service. Roscommon 

County Council promotes home 

composting and to this end, compost bins 

and kitchen caddy's are available at a 

reduced rate of €40.00. 

Flooding 

The Mill Stream flows through the village 

into the Lecarrow Canal and on to 

Blackbrink Bay, Lough Ree and the River 

Shannon. Flood waters from the River 

Shannon reached as far as Knockanyconor 

Townland in 1954, just over 250 metres 

from the centre of the village. In the 

Winter of 1999 / 2000 flood waters 

reached Carrownamaddy Townland, just 

over a kilometre from the village centre. 

In the past 2 years flooding has again 

occurred along the canal as well as 

flooding in the village itself. Some 

flooding in the village may be due to the 

incorrect positioning of storm drains in the 

centre of the village. 

Land Uses 

The predominant land use in Lecarrow is 

residential, consisting mainly of single 

dwellings. The village core contains an 

integrated mix of uses including 

residential, commercial, community 

facilities and public utilities. Although 

there is light industry located outside of the 

village towards Athlone, and extractive 

industries towards Roscommon Town, 

lands outside the village core are 

predominantly agricultural and used for 

tillage and grazing of livestock. 

Education 

There are two primary schools in the 

Lecarrow area, these are St. John’s 

National School and Glanduff National 

School. 

At present, there are 35 pupils attending St. 

John’s National School which also houses 

a pre-school. There are currently plans to 

develop a playground adjacent to the 

school. The school grounds and buildings 

are kept beautifully clean and litter-free, 

and the school’s garden has an impressive 

array of plants and flowers. Both the 

teachers and pupils of St. John’s National 

School have a great interest in the 

environment and the biodiversity of the 

area. Not only were they winners of the 

Map of flooding around Lecarrow Village 

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St John’s National School 

Best Use of Art in School Grounds Section 

of the Tidy Schools Competition 2007, run 

by Roscommon County Council, they also 

regularly get involved in local clean-ups as 

well as producing class projects on the 

local environment, such as Lecarrow Canal 

and St. John’s Wood. 

Glanduff National School 

There are currently 115 pupils attending 

Glanduff National School. The Department 

of Education gave permission for an 

extension to the school in 2006 with a new 

ten-room school currently under 

consideration. As with St. John’s National 

School, the school building and grounds 

are immaculately maintained, making to 

clear why the school was crowned winner 

of the 2003 Tidy Schools Competition. In 

addition to their achievement at school, the 

pupils of Glanduff have a tradition of sport, 

including hurling and camogie, which sees 

them competing with local schools such as 

St. John’s and Rahara National Schools. 

Employment Opportunities 

The two main employers in the Lecarrow 

area are Whelan’s Limestone Quarry and 

Murphy’s Limestone Quarry. 

Approximately 20-25 people are employed 

at Whelan’s Quarry and approximately 5 

people at Murphy’s Quarry. There are also 

a number of smaller or family-run 

businesses in the area providing 

employment opportunities. These including 

Coffey’s Bar and Grocery, Kelly’s Bar, 

Coffey’s Agri Supplies and The Yew Tree 

restaurant. Two people are employed in the 

area under the Rural Social Scheme to 

complete village enhancement projects and 

in the maintenance and care of local 

community facilities. 

Most local residents commute to work in 

the larger surrounding towns, such as 

Roscommon, Athlone and as far away as 

Longford and Ballinasloe. Much of the 

land surrounding Lecarrow village is 

farmed on a part-time basis by residents 

who are also in employment outside the 

village. 

Tourist Accommodation 

There are currently two B&Bs in and 

around the village including St. John’s 

House which is located near Rindoon, 

overlooking the shores of Lough Ree. The 

nearest hotel to Lecarrow would be the 

Hodson Bay Hotel near Athlone or 

Hannon’s Hotel in Roscommon Town. 

Views of Lough Ree from Carrownure Bay 

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VILLAGE CHARACTER 

The Surrounding Landscape 

The topography around Lecarrow is 

generally flat with a series of low hills and 

ridges combined with areas of woodland, 

such as St. John’s Wood on the shores of 

Lough Ree. The area surrounding the 

village is mainly characterised by dry 

grassland with a ridge of reclaimed raised 

bog to the west, and areas of wet grassland 

and wetland further along Lecarrow Canal, 

and around Blackbrink Bay and Lough Ree 

to the east. Much of the lands around 

Blackbrink Bay and Lough Ree are 

designated cSAC, NHA and SPA, with the 

Lough Ree cSAC and NHA extending 

along the Lecarrow Canal to within 850 

metres of the village (see Map 6). 

Lecarrow Harbour 

The village is immediately surrounded by 

flat green pastures and areas of woodland 

which provide a wonderfully rich and 

vibrant landscape setting for the village. 

Although there are no direct views of 

Lough Ree from the village itself, 

Lecarrow Harbour provides fabulous views 

Lecarrow Canal 

along the canal towards Lough Ree, as well 

as the potential for a walk and cycleway 

along the canal providing views of the 

Lake. 

Immediately outside Lecarrow at 

Carrowmanagh (between the village and St 

Johns School) there are exceptional views 

towards Lough Ree, as well as the potential 

to provide a viewing point and pull-in area 

for cars. 

Views to Lough Ree from Carrowmanagh 

In addition, St John’s Wood and Rindoon 

are located further along this road. St 

John’s Wood is one of the most important 

woodland sites in the County and has been 

described as one of the best-preserved 

examples of ancient woods in the Country. 

Not only has Rindoon some of the most 

outstanding views of Lough Ree in the 

County but it is also home to Rindoon 

Castle and ‘the deserted town’, one of the 

most important complexes of Medieval 

monuments in the country. This lakeside 

amenity has a splendid landscape and is a 

tourist attraction with the potential for 

further development including the 

development of a cycle route from the 

village. This cycle route could take in the 

views of Lough Ree, from 

Carrownamanagh, as well as St John’s 

Wood, Rindoon and other sites and 

features of interest along this road. 

Approaches to Lecarrow 

Lecarrow is situated just off the N61 road 

from Roscommon to Athlone, along the 

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L2007 local road. There are mature trees, 

moss covered stone walls and hedgerows 

along all approaches to the village. There 

are pretty landscaped green areas to the 

front of the Yew Tree Restaurant and 

Coffey’s Bar and Grocery, which are the 

first things people see when they arrive at 

Lecarrow. Here, there are picnic benches 

and flowerbeds, which hint at the charming 

village that lies within. 

Landscape Features 

The Wildlife sanctuary beside the harbour 

is also an important landscape feature. It 

provides an interesting focus for those 

visiting the harbour and an opportunity for 

local schoolchildren to find out more about 

nature and the biodiversity of their area. 

The Mill Stream is an important landscape 

feature within the village. It flows 

southwards alongside the N61 for a time 

before it crosses the N61 and L2007, 

flowing past the Mill, and finally reaches 

Lecarrow Harbour and the canal on its way 

to Lough Ree. The Mill Stream played an 

important role in the historic development 

of the village, supporting both the flour and 

corn mills which were the industrial heart 

of the village during the 19 th century. 

Today, the Mill Stream supports the many 

birds and wildlife that inhabit the wildlife 

sanctuary adjacent to the harbour, as well 

as being a focal point at the centre of the 

village. 

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The Mill Stream 

St John’s Wood contains over 330 acres of 

unique ecological heritage particularly 

flora and fauna and it is a great example of 

Biodiversity. The woodland is relatively 

undisturbed with varied plants and birds. It 

is an intriguing and captivating place 

which attracts locals and visitors all year 

round. 

Recorded Monuments and Places 

The Record of Monuments and Places 

(RMP) is an inventory of sites and areas of 

archaeological significance. 

Nellie’s Rock 

megalithic monuments around it are also 

protected, including a barrow mound and a 

cist or small passage tomb. Nellie’s Rock 

is so called because in the last century a 

poor woman is believed to have taken 

refuge and reared a child beneath it. 

Nellie’s Rock and its surrounds are of 

particular importance to the community of 

Lecarrow. This is evident in the 

programme undertaken by the Lecarrow 

Development Committee, begun in 2006, 

to clear the vegetation and make the site 

accessible to the public. A tourist 

Recorded Monuments include Nellie’s 

Rock, which is a portal tomb west of the 

village across the N61. Several of the Tourist Information Board at Nellie’s Rock 

RMP Number Townland Classification 

RO045-053001 Knockanyconor Megalithic Tomb-Portal Tomb 

RO045-053002 Knockanyconor Cist 

RO045-054 Knockanyconor Barrow-Mound Barrow 

RO045-055 Knockanyconor Designed Landscape-Tree Ring 

RO045-056001 Knockanyconor Ritual Site-Holy Well 

RO045-056002 Knockanyconor Ritual Site-Holy Well 

RO042-112 Killoy Ringfort-Rath 

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information board was also erected at the 

site and an attractive leaflet on the stones 

was produced. 

Another recorded monument is St John’s 

Well to the east of the village, south of the 

canal. Here pattern masses are held every 

year on June 24 th . Pilgrims used to travel to 

this mass by train which used to stop at 

Killiaghan Bridge about a kilometre south 

of the village (the bridge had a platform). 

In the past this event was incorporated as 

part of the three week Lecarrow Carnival. 

A marquee was erected in the car park 

from the 12 th June to 1 st July and popular 

events included music and dance and local 

crafts and agricultural produce. The 

carnival ceased in 1976. There are plans to 

reorganise this event as a Midsummer’s 

Night festival on the 21 st June with day 

trips to the islands within Blackbrink Bay. 

Open Spaces 

St John’s Well 

Within the village there are a number of 

landscaped public open spaces which 

contribute to the character of the village 

Picnic Benches along the N61 

and the pleasure of the local community. 

There are beautifully landscaped green 

areas along the N61 approaches to the 

village including picnic benches and 

flowers to the front of Coffey’s Bar and 

Grocery. However, this area could be 

further enhanced by reducing the amount 

of signage at the junction. 

There is also a large landscaped green area 

running along the length of the Harbour 

which is used by locals for walking and 

recreation. There is ample street furniture 

in the form of benches and litter bins. 

However, with plans for a new children’s 

playground and a possible walkway along 

the Mill Stream, public lighting would be 

required. This walk could be incorporated 

into the green area and it is suggested that 

all modern lights in the village be replaced 

by traditional style lights. In addition, the 

roadway from the main road to the Canal 

should be closed off to vehicular traffic 

and should be for pedestrians only. This 

road was originally cobbled and the 

community would love to see the cobbles 

reinstated. 

St John’s Soccer Grounds and Clubhouse 

are located to the north-east of the village 

and are an important asset for the local 

community. Not only are the grounds used 

by the local Soccer Club but also by the 

local National Schools and by locals for 

walking and jogging. In order to ensure the 

continued development of these grounds, 

lands in the vicinity should be retained to 

allow for possible future extension. 

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The Green at the Harbour 

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St John’s Soccer Grounds 

Landscaping and Planting 

Trees and hedgerows are an important 

feature in the countryside surrounding 

Lecarrow. Landscaping, and planting trees 

and shrubs can help to make an area more 

attractive by adding colour, texture and 

structure, as well as creating shelter and 

enclosure, supporting the wildlife and 

biodiversity of an area. Effective planting 

can help new development blend into its 

surroundings, and can screen unattractive 

views, absorb road noise and provide 

privacy. 

New development in its landscape setting 

Trees and hedgerows are an important part 

of the character of Lecarrow village and 

should be retained. It is important that all 

new development respects the rural 

character of Lecarrow, and ensures that 

natural features such as hedgerows, shrubs 

and mature trees are protected. There are 

many open areas and natural habitats 

within the village and its surroundings and 

these should be maintained free of 

development. There are many areas of 

mature trees within the village, for 

example south of Kelly’s Bar, around the 

Community Centre, around the old 

Barracks and Coffey’s Agri Supplies, 

along the harbour and wildlife area, as well 

as areas to the south of the village. These 

areas should be maintained as they 

contribute enormously to the character of 

the village and its landscape setting. In 

addition, there are opportunities for more 

planting along the Canal and main road 

through the village. 

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The landscape along the Harbour Road 

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Flower Baskets in the Village



Biodiversity 

“Biodiversity has been defined as the 

variety of life. It is every tiny insect, every 

plant and tree, every fish, bird and 

mammal. Anything that lives is part of our 

biodiversity. It is important to remember 

that biodiversity includes us too” (Draft 

Roscommon Biodiversity Action Plan 

2008, p.6). 

There is a growing global recognition that 

the world’s increasing population and our 

growing consumption of natural resources 

has led to a rapid loss of biodiversity. 

Therefore, in 1996, the Irish government 

signed up to The Convention on Biological 

Diversity and to the conservation of 

national and local biodiversity including 

the production of a Biodiversity Action 

Plan by each local authority. Roscommon’s 

Biodiversity Plan is currently in Draft form 

and once adopted will become part of the 

County Roscommon Heritage Plan and 

Roscommon County Development Plan. 

Each area of biodiversity is unique and in 

County Roscommon biodiversity includes 

a variety of habitats such as our waterways, 

peatlands, woodlands and agriculture as 

well as species such as the red squirrel and 

pine martens, and plants such as the Marsh 

Pea and Irish Whitebeam. 

The Wildlife Area by the Harbour 

The biodiversity of Lecarrow includes a 

variety of habitats, from the gardens of 

local residents to the woodland areas that 

surround the village, the wildlife area by 

the Harbour and along the Canal, the 

grasslands, and wetlands, and raised bog 

that surround the village and reach as far as 

Lough Ree and the Shannon, St John’s 

Wood and Rindoon. Each of these areas 

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The Wildlife Area by the Harbour 

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The Mill Stream



must be protected in order to safeguard the 

biodiversity of Lecarrow, and County 

Roscommon, for future generations. New 

development must seek to support the 

biodiversity of the village, while the local 

community can help to raise awareness, 

understanding and enjoyment of 

Lecarrow’s unique heritage. 

The biodiversity farm, to the north-east of 

the village, is a wonderful way of ensuring 

that the biodiversity of the area is 

celebrated. This farm includes a walkway 

through a wooded area which is visited by 

tourists as well as local school children. 

Roscommon County Council also 

organises walks here during the summer 

months. The Biodiversity Farm also 

features in Roscommon’s National 

Heritage Week list of events each year. 

Nature Designations 

Lough Ree is the second largest lake on 

the River Shannon and is relatively shallow 

in depth with a large number of islands. 

Lecarrow village is connected to Lough 

Ree via the Lecarrow Canal which flows 

into Blackbrink Bay. Lough Ree is a 

designated Special Protection Area (SPA), 

Natural Heritage Area (NHA) and 

candidate Special Area of Conservation 

(cSAC). 

An NHA is an area considered important 

for the habitats present or which holds 

species of plants and animals whose habitat 

needs protection. An SPA is designated 

under the Birds Directive, and cSAC are 

the prime wildlife conservation areas in the 

country, considered to be important on a 

European as well as Irish level. 

The Lough Ree SPA covers the area of the 

lake approximately 1.5km north-east of 

Lecarrow village. The Lough Ree NHA 

and cSAC also covers the area of the lake 

but extends further along the Lecarrow 

Canal to within 800 metres of the village. 

These areas are extremely important to the 

biodiversity of the area and any new 

development adjacent or close to a 

designated area must protect against 

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Local Nature Designations 

significant adverse impacts. The 

regeneration of Lough Ree and the 

Lecarrow Canal, and the promotion of the 

unique wildlife and habitats associated 

with them, is a priority of Roscommon 

County Council and Waterways Ireland as 

well as the local community of Lecarrow. 

Tourism Potential 

Marine tourism accounts for a great 

proportion of the numbers of visitors to the 

county each year. Visitors flock to areas 

such as the River Shannon and Lough Ree, 

to enjoy the beauty of the lakes and rivers 

and to take part in many of the activities on 

offer. Roscommon offers extensive walks, 

fishing, boating and swimming. Not only 

do visitors come to experience these 

traditional activities but also the number of 

marine leisure users has increased 

dramatically in the past few years creating 

a new focus for marine tourism within the 

county. 

The location of Lecarrow at the base of the 

Lecarrow Canal leading to Lough Ree and 

the River Shannon brings with it great 

potential for marine tourism. Currently the 

Harbour and Canal are busy during the 

summer months with boats coming up and 

down the Shannon to moor at the Harbour. 

Current plans to expand the harbour 

facilities, providing pump out and other 

facilities, will improve the tourism 

potential of the area. The development of 

the potential of the marine resources in the 

context of marine tourism, marine sports 

and recreational activities will promote the 

economic development of the area. 

In the past there were issues with aquatic 

weeds preventing safe access to the village 

from Lough Ree. Currently the Canal is 

monitored for weed growth on a regular 

basis by Waterways Ireland and weeds can 

be cut at short notice. This continued weed 

clearing operation will ensure safe 

navigation into the future. 

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Tourism at the Harbour 

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Street Pattern & Built Form 

Lecarrow is a linear village, defined by the 

main N61 road to the west, a fork in the 

road to the south and the junction with the 

main road to the north, intersected by the 

mill race at it’s centre. 

A sense of enclosure is created by the 

Coffey’s / Kelly’s building complex to the 

north, the harbour to the east, the main N61 

road to the west and the fork in the road to 

the south, all of which provide definite 

boundaries. 

The buildings in the village are a 

combination of single–storey and twostorey 

houses, some having commercial 

premises at ground floor level. 

Village Core 

The village core extends from The Yew 

Tree restaurant to the Y-junction south of 

the village and is covered by the 50km 

speed limit. This area is highlighted in 

Maps 5 and 6 in light grey, and should not 

be mistaken for zoning, it is merely an 

indication of the central part of the village 

where the majority of local activity takes 

place. 

Village Environs 

The village environs extends outwards 

from the 50km speed limits to 

approximately 300 metres north of the 

Yew Tree restaurant, and approximately 

600 metres south of St. John’s Community 

Centre. This area includes St. John’s 

Soccer Grounds to the north and several 

local residences to the south. This area is 

highlighted in Maps 5 and 6 in dark grey, 

and should not be mistaken for zoning, it is 

merely an indication of the outer part of the 

village where some local activity takes 

place. 

Colour 

The bright red with green detailing of 

Coffey’s pub and shop is a defining feature 

of the village at the entrance from the 

north, and when combined with Kelly’s 

contrasting yellow makes both a striking 

and welcoming entrance to the village. 

Colour plays a vital role in defining village 

character, and the variety and contrast of 

colour can, as in the example of Coffey’s, 

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Coffey’s Bar and Grocery, Lecarrow 

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make a very positive contribution to the 

character of, and become synonymous 

with, the village. However, care must be 

taken to ensure that colours chosen are 

sympathetic to and integrate with the built 

and natural surroundings. 

Lighting 

New lighting has recently been installed in 

the village core providing public lighting 

between The Yew Tree restaurant and the 

Community Centre. 

When planning lighting, it is important that 

the natural wildlife habitats in the area are 

taken into consideration, to ensure that any 

intrusion generated is minimised. 

Pavements 

At present there are no pavements or 

footpaths in Lecarrow. The road is narrow 

in places, particularly over the bridge, 

which would make the introduction of 

these difficult. However, in some areas, 

their absence is a serious problem for 

pedestrians. The use of shared surface 

pavements (painted) should be considered 

in the village. The bridge at the centre of 

the village is very narrow, people tend to 

stop on the bridge to look over, a 

pedestrian footbridge (boardwalk) should 

be provided here. This boardwalk could be 

used to cover the unsightly pipes located to 

the west of the bridge. 

Car park at St John’s Community Centre 

Car Parking 

between the harbour area and the 

community centre. Some additional car 

parking is available outside Coffey’s, for 

those using these commercial facilities, and 

at the Yew Tree restaurant, for diners. 

Street Furniture 

Street furniture includes seating, litter bins, 

bollards, post boxes, phone boxes and all 

ancillary furniture within the public realm. 

Lecarrow’s street furniture is a mixture of 

old and new, with a traditional timber 

phone box to the south of Kelly’s Pub and 

a cast-iron post box opposite Coffey’s pub. 

The post box opposite Coffey’s Pub 

The harbour area also has seating and there 

are picnic tables outside Coffey’s pub. The 

introduction of new street furniture should 

only occur after careful consideration has 

been given to existing facilities, established 

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A bench at the Harbour



village character, and health and safety 

issues. 

A litter bin along the main road 

An unusual yet attractive feature in 

Lecarrow village and St John’s parish are 

the stone townland signs which can be 

found in every townland in the parish. 

These are both useful and interesting 

pieces of street furniture, and were erected 

by the St. John’s Heritage Group. 

Boundary Features 

Stone Townland sign 

Typical boundary features in Lecarrow 

include stone and painted rendered walls. 

These are traditional features of rural Irish 

villages which are an important part of the 

character of Lecarrow. 

Boundary features on the outskirts of the 

village are more organic, and often 

incorporate trees, bushes and wild flowers. 

These provide natural habitats and 

corridors for wildlife, as well as being 

attractive rural features, and it is important 

that these are retained to maintain the 

integrity of Lecarrow’s rural setting. 

Signage 

Stone wall in the village 

Signage is somewhat ad hoc in Lecarrow, 

and there is a particular problem with the 

multitude of auctioneer signs and a lack of 

tourist signage. 

There is a detailed map of Lecarrow and 

the surrounding area at the northern 

entrance to the village, where information 

is given relating to the various heritage 

sites in the area. 

Signage at Lecarrow 

It is important in any settlement to ensure 

that signage is not overdone, creating 

visual clutter in the streetscape, whilst at 

the same time clearly demonstrating to 

visitors how to find the local sites. 

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Buildings & Features of Interest 

Lecarrow’s built heritage is a core element 

of the appeal and character of the village. 

There are several buildings which make a 

positive contribution to the streetscape, 

whilst at the same time providing a sense 

of continuity from one generation to the 

next. 

These include: 

• The Harbour & Canal 

• The bridges 

• The Mill 

• Coffey’s/Kelly’s complex 

• The old RIC barracks 

• The Courthouse & adjoining cottage 

Each of these are also important focal 

points in the village, and are a testimony to 

the people and activity of Lecarrow’s past. 

Boats at the Harbour 

The Harbour & the Canal 

The canal and harbour were built between 

the 1790s and 1840s, and are still in use 

today. The canal was originally constructed 

to transport stone from the nearby quarries 

and processed food and materials from the 

local mills. The cut stone harbour is a 

testimony to the industrial heritage of 

Lecarrow, as well as a fine example of 

nineteenth century inland waterways 

construction schemes. It is an attractive 

amenity for locals and visitors alike. The 

cut limestone construction is evidence of 

the fine craftsmanship which was typical of 

the period, and is likely to have been built 

using local stone. 

The Bridges 

The bridges at the centre of the village 

were built c. 1800, to facilitate access to 

and from the mill which was built at the 

same time. They pass over the mill race, 

which was used to power the mill. 

The Mill 

The mill was built c. 1800, and was used to 

process corn, meal and flax, and operated 

until about 1940. It is the tallest and one of 

the oldest buildings in the village, and is an 

important element of Lecarrow’s industrial 

past. The mill is a protected structure and 

recent works to improve its general 

appearance have been extremely 

successful. 

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One of the bridges at Lecarrow 


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The old RIC Barracks 

Coffey’s Bar and Grocery 

The old RIC barracks, adjacent to Coffey’s 

yard, is an interesting building complex. 

Although not in use, it has retained many 

of it’s original features, particularly in the 

unusual two-storey extension to the rear. 

This features a patterned concrete tile roof, 

timber gabled first-floor entrance and 

timber casement windows. 

The old Courthouse at Lecarrow 

The Courthouse 

The courthouse is a terrace of two singlestorey 

vernacular cottages which were 

once thatched. There is a set of fine cutstone 

steps descending to the south of the 

courthouse, which was once part of the 

complex, and bars over some of the 

windows, denoting a prison cell. Although 

in a state of disrepair, there is still a great 

deal of potential to reuse this building. 

Coffey’s/Kelly’s 

Coffey’s pub and shop is the most ornate 

building in the village, with neo-classical 

influences in the balustrading and rendered 

cornice detailing to the shopfront. At the 

same time, the hipped slate roof and timber 

sliding sash windows are typical features 

of traditional urban buildings. Painted 

bright red, Coffey’s is a landmark building 

at the head of the village. 

Kelly’s is more traditional in style, with a 

single-storey cottage to the rear and ad hoc 

arrangement of outbuildings which have 

been added to organically over the years. 

This is an attractive feature of traditional 

building, which demonstrates the 

requirements of previous owners or 

occupiers. 

The Record of Protected Structures 

There are six buildings and features in 

Lecarrow which are included in the Record 

of Protected Structures. These are listed in 

the following table. Protected Structures 

are structures deemed by the Local 

Authority to be of architectural, historical, 

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Kelly’s Bar 

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04500522 Water Mill Knockanyconnor 

04500523 Bridge over Mill Race Knockanyconnor 

04500524 Bridge over Mill Stream Knockanyconnor 

04500091 17th Century House Gort 

04500092 St John’s Windmill Killiaghan & Gort 

04200090 Galeybeg House Galeybeg 

archaeological, artistic, cultural, scientific, 

social or technical interest, and as such 

there is an onus on the owner to protect 

their special character by carrying out 

appropriate repairs to ensure the longevity 

of the building. Grants are available from a 

wide variety of sources, including 

Roscommon County Council, to assist with 

the cost of repairs. 

In carrying out their survey of the County 

in 2003, the National Inventory of the 

Architectural Heritage identified four sites 

in Lecarrow. These were the two bridges, 

the harbour and the mill, which were all 

deemed to be of regional significance. 

Roofs 

Sample of a pitched slate roof 

Typical roof styles in Lecarrow are pitched 

grey slate roofs, with the exception of 

Coffey’s pub, which has a hipped roof, 

making reference to its siting on the corner 

at the northern end of the village. 

Finishes 

Building finishes in Lecarrow are typically 

painted rendered walls. In historic 

building, stone was almost always covered 

with a lime render which was then painted, 

although most of the more “run-down” 

older buildings have lost their render. 

Windows & Doors 

Window and door openings in Lecarrow’s 

traditional buildings, in line with most 

rural buildings, have a vertical emphasis. 

Typically, windows were timer sliding 

sash, although this has largely been 

replaced with uPVC alternatives. Doors are 

generally timber, and the absence of detail 

demonstrates the emphasis on simplicity 

and traditional building methods, and adds 

to the rural character of the village. 

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Sample finish, the Mill, Lecarrow 

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Shop fronts 

Shop front of Coffey’s Pub 

Shop fronts in the village are relatively 

recent, except Coffey’s pub which is a 

good example of the simplicity and use of 

elegant proportions used in traditional shop 

fronts. In new designs, it is important that 

the scale, massing, materials and colours of 

the building as well as the surrounding 

buildings are taken into consideration to 

ensure that they do not ruin the streetscape. 

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Shop front at Kelly’s Bar 

New Development 

New development within and around 

Lecarrow has been limited to low-density 

one–off housing. In any future designs, it is 

important to take into consideration the 

established styles, materials, scale, mass 

and density of existing buildings, to ensure 

that any new build does not obscure or 

detract from the established character of 

the village. 

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Community Consultation 

The preparation of this Village Design 

Statement for Lecarrow included extensive 

community consultation including a public 

consultation workshop, steering group 

meetings, public submissions, 

questionnaires and a local schools project. 

The first public consultation workshop was 

held at St. John’s Community Centre in 

Lecarrow on the 3 rd of June 2008. 

Approximately 30 people attended this 

meeting including the local community as 

well as members and officials of 

Roscommon County Council. At this 

meeting, the local community pointed out a 

number of issues currently affecting the 

village as well as concerns for future 

development of the village (see Map 7). 

At this meeting a Steering Group was 

formed, made up of eight local people 

volunteered by the local community. The 

aim of the Steering Group was to ensure 

that the community’s views were carried 

through the village design statement 

process and to act as a point of contact for 

the community during this process. 

A Feedback Report of all responses 

received during the first consultation was 

prepared and a meeting was held with the 

Steering Group on the 25 th June 2008 to 

discuss the Feedback Report. 

This VDS has been prepared in line with 

the feedback received from the local 

community and the Steering Group. The 

production of this VDS has been made 

possible thanks to the Community’s 

willingness to share their local knowledge, 

their concerns, and their continued effort. 

Community Concerns 

The following is a summary of the critical 

issues and community concerns raised 

during the consultation process. 

Local Services: 

• The new sewerage system is not 

working correctly, there is a bad odour 

coming from the system. This needs to 

be rectified. 

• The water supply needs to be upgraded 

as there are problems with the quality & 

pressure throughout the village. There 

are regular stoppages of the water 

supply which is also a major concern. 

Delays in attending to leaks in the 

system should be minimised. 

• The quality of broadband in some parts 

of the village is very poor. 

• Street elements that are needed include 

more bins, public lighting, and public 

footpaths as well as a covered barbeque 

area and a sheltered bus stop. 

• A proper bus stop & shelters on both 

sides of the N61 should be provided. 

The current bus stop is very dangerous, 

local children have to cross the main 

road to get to & from it. 

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Litter bin in the village 

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Roads & Parking: 

• The turning lane into the village could 

be improved by widening it. A portion 

of the grass bank could be used to 

widen the road. Turning out onto the 

main road can be extremely dangerous. 

A roundabout could be provided if the 

road was widened. 

• It is difficult to see if traffic is coming 

from the village while pulling out of the 

parking area at Coffey’s Bar and 

Grocery. 

View of the village from Coffey’s 

• Some of the local roads need 

resurfacing and upgrading as they are in 

a bad state of repair due to recent works 

in the village, including the new 

treatment plant, as well as works that 

are on-going. 

• Road markings need to be upgraded. 

• There is adequate car parking in the 

village in the Harbour car park and at 

St. John’s Community Centre. 

• The Yew Tree restaurant has its own 

parking but this is not marked out. 

• The car park at the harbour presents a 

poor image. The recycling bins detract 

from the area and dumping occasionally 

occurs adjacent to the bins. 

Traffic Management & Pedestrian Safety: 

• Traffic Calming measures are urgently 

needed throughout the village as there 

is a problem with speeding along the 

back roads. Speed limits could be 

reduced from the village to St John’s 

National School. 

• Traffic could be slowed in the village 

through the use of rumble strips or 

something else. The use of speed 

bumps would be terrible for trucks etc. 

• Footpaths should be provided 

throughout the village: 

⇒ From the village to the local soccer 

club and pitches. 

⇒ From the Harbour to the village 

• A boardwalk could be provided at the 

west side of the bridge adjacent to the 

Mill. This bridge is too narrow for a 

footpath and is dangerous for 

pedestrians and cyclists. 

• Due to the narrowness of the main road 

through the village it may not be 

possible to provide a proper kerbed 

footpath. Therefore a brick footpath, 

which is level with the road, would 

allow trucks, tractors etc. the space they 

need to get through, as well as allowing 

cars to move over to allow other 

vehicles to pass, while clearly outlining 

that the brick space is for pedestrians. 

• Some walkways should be provided, 

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Possible location of boardwalk 

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reopened and maintained throughout the 

village: 

⇒ A walkway should be provided 

along the Mill Stream that runs into 

the Lecarrow Harbour. 

⇒ The road going down towards the 

canal should be pedestrianised and 

restored to its former cobble finish. 

⇒ The existing walkway leading from 

the Harbour to the Blackbrink Bay, 

which is now unused, is very over 

grown and liable to flooding, should 

be reopened. 

• Public street lighting should be provided 

throughout the village: 

⇒ From the Harbour to St. John’s 

National School. 

⇒ At the Community Centre 

⇒ At the Yew Tree restaurant 

⇒ Along any walkways that might be 

provided. 

• Existing public streetlights should be 

replaced with more traditional 

streetlights. 

Derelict Buildings & Areas in need of 

Improvement 

• The old Courthouse 

• The old Barracks 

• The Telephone Box. 

• The Handball Alley 

• There are some undeveloped open 

spaces in the village that could be 

improved. 

• The stone wall on the left as you come 

from Roscommon towards Lecarrow, 

should be repaired and maintained by 

Roscommon County Council in 

conjunction with the owner. 

Landscaping: 

• Picnic areas could be provided beside 

the Mill on the green. 

• There is a need to screen or provide 

planting around the pump house beside 

the Mill. It is an eyesore at the moment 

particularly as it is adjacent to a 

protected structure. 

• The entrance to the old spring well 

should be reopened. 

• A path should be provided through the 

wildlife area next to the harbour. 

• The view of the lake from Tulleen Hill 

on the road to St. John’s National 

School could be developed as a viewing 

area. 

• Colourful planting should be provided 

in the village all year round. 

• Some of the green areas should be 

levelled and kerbing provided on the 

approach roads in order to prevent large 

trucks driving on them. 

• Hedge trimming should not be done 

when birds are nesting. 

• More open spaces should be 

landscaped. 

Litter: 

• Adequate litter facilities are required for 

the village especially at the harbour. 

• The dumping of household waste in the 

skip at the harbour needs to be 

addressed. 

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The pump house beside the Mill 

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• The recycling area needs to be relocated 

behind the hedged area, with a hard area 

in front, to facilitate cleaning. 

• More litter bins need to be provided 

throughout the village. 

• The control of weeds is a problem at the 

canal. The OPW have a duty to control 

the growth of weeds along the canal. 

Signage: 

Waste overflow at the harbour skip 

• ‘Slow through Village’ signs should be 

provided throughout the village. 

• There is a need for further signage in 

and around the village i.e. information 

signs towards the areas of interest. 

• All directions signs need to be on the 

one post. 

• The village is destroyed by Auctioneers 

signs. Auctioneers should be fined for 

their leaving their signs up after sales 

have gone through. 

• All signs should be cleaned annually 

and broken signs should be replaced. 

• ‘No swimming’ signs are required at the 

Harbour as the local waste water system 

discharges into the Canal. 

Public Open Space: 

• There are very few public open spaces 

except for the green areas adjoining the 

N61. There is a need for a new green 

area in the centre of the village, the 

green area beside Coffey’s Bar and 

Grocery has been reduced for buses and 

is not used. 

• The creation of a new green open space 

area south of the Yew Tree restaurant 

should be developed as this is the area 

that most of the visitors come to. 

• A potential site for a public open space 

area is to the south of the current green 

areas at the harbour is proposed. 

• Another potential site for a public open 

space area is to the rear of the harbour 

car park. 

• A covered barbeque stand, public 

seating and lighting should be 

considered for the public open spaces. 

• The tap at the head of the harbour road 

should be removed as the public drive 

their cars down this road and wash their 

cars at the tap leaving a mess behind. 

This tap is often left dripping and is no 

longer really required. 

• The Council’s work yard needs to be 

relocated from the main road (currently 

being used as a halting site). 

Community Facilities: 

• The following facilities and services 

would be a welcome addition to the 

village: 

⇒ A cash machine; 

The tap at the head of the harbour road 

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⇒ A doctor’s surgery; 

⇒ A chemist shop; 

⇒ An active age organisation for the 

elderly; 

⇒ A caretaker is needed for the 

Community Centre. 

• The Community Centre should be 

redeveloped as a focal point of the 

community life. 

• The Community Centre should be made 

more available for indoor sports during 

the summer season when the weather is 

bad. 

• There should be an annual review, with 

regard to the needs of the area and its 

maintenance, held between the 

community and the local authority. 

• The issue of lack of housing for the 

elderly within the village needs to be 

addressed. All new residential 

development within the village should 

include an element of housing for the 

elderly. 

Tourism Facilities: 

• The Village has many tourist attractions 

including: 

⇒ The Harbour & the forthcoming 

redevelopment of this area 

⇒ The Canal 

⇒ The Biodiversity Farm 

⇒ St. John’s Well 

⇒ St. John’s Wood 

⇒ Rindoon Castle 

⇒ The Dolmen (Nellie’s Rock) 

• Some further facilities are needed to 

encourage more tourists to the village: 

⇒ A museum, there are plans, by the 

community, to restore the ‘old 

courthouse’ and turn it into a 

museum. 

⇒ Boat maintenance & storage 

39 

facilities should be provided at the 

harbour. 

⇒ Notices / signage at the harbour 

telling people about local sights of 

interest etc. 

⇒ More facilities for cruisers & 

service block at the harbour. 

⇒ Media coverage is needed, the 

tourism board should come to visit 

the area and talk to the community. 

⇒ A picnic and viewing area at Lough 

Ree. 

⇒ Street Furniture and a picnic area at 

the Dolmen (Nellie’s Rock). 

Other Issues: 

• Concerns were raised with regard to the 

density of new development in the 

village. A maximum density of 5 

houses per hectare was suggested; in 

keeping with existing densities in the 

village and in line with national 

guidelines for villages. Horse shoe 

arrangement single entrance, or linear 

arrangement with single road access 

was also suggested. 

• It was suggested that new development 

should not be encouraged along or 

overlooking approach roads to the 

village. 

• Roscommon County Council need to 

have personal contact with the local 

community prior to and during any 

works being carried out in the Village. 

• Roscommon County Council should 

provide contact names for the persons 

overseeing work in the area, so that the 

local community can make contact with 

them if the need arises. 

• Any meetings with the local community 

would be more suitable if held on 

Friday evenings or Saturdays. 

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Schools Project 

As part of the community consultation for 

this VDS, a schools project was run with 

the help from the students and teachers of 

St John’s National School and Glanduff 

National School. The schoolchildren were 

asked to describe and draw pictures of their 

village. Its very important that the local 

children have an opportunity to contribute 

to this VDS, as one local child wrote “I 

think its really cool that I get a say in the 

future of my village”. 

Things we like: 

• There is a sign that welcomes people to 

Lecarrow and tells them about 

facilities such as the harbour, Rinn 

Dúin Castle, St John’s School etc. 

• The village has improved over the 

years because of its flowers and 

greenery. 

• Lecarrow is always quiet and peaceful, 

and is a clean and tidy village thanks to 

the local people. 

• Lecarrow is a small, friendly village 

with beautiful attractions for tourists. 

• Walking in St John’s Wood and 

Rindoon Castle. 

• Visiting Mountplunkett Water Reserve. 

• Feeding the ducks and swans at the 

harbour and visiting St John’s Well, 

especially in the Summer. 

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• Getting up early to see animals like the 

pine martens, stoats, rabbits and hares. 

• Hearing birds singing and lambs 

bleating when you go outside. 

• If you live in Lecarrow you never hear 

many cars or trucks, sometimes you 

can barely hear anything except the 

animals. 

Things we would like to change: 

• It would be nice to repaint St John’s 

Community Centre in bright colours 

and provide more lighting around it. 

• It would be great to see the old Mill 

cleaned up, restored and working 

again, maybe a fish restaurant could be 

put there. 

• Bright new shrubbery and flowers in 

the village would be nice. 

• A coffee shop, café, pitch and putt, and 

crazy golf would be great. 

• A crèche at St John’s Community 

Centre would be great as there are a 

large amount of families with children 

in the area. 

• A children’s disco for 10-18 year olds 

would be great. 

• Some swings, slides, a play gym and 

picnic tables at the park near the 

harbour or side of the Community 

Centre. This would attract children 

from the area. 

• A new park for Lecarrow to attract 

more people. If they build new houses, 

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more families will come and more 

children might come to the school. 

• Signs for B&B for tourists. 

• A rent-a-bike at the harbour for tourists 

coming off the boats to get around. 

• Boat trips for school tours. 

• A souvenir shop. 

• A fishing tackle shop. 

• More tourists sailing into the harbour, 

the water is dirty at the moment and 

weeds get caught in the boat 

propellers. The harbour needs to be 

cleaned, widened and deepened. 

• A good slipway at the harbour, shore 

power connections, a pump out station 

and toilets. 

• Tours of local historic places and a 

footpath or cycleway from St John’s 

Wood to the village as well as more 

litter bins along this road. 

• A nature trail and playground at St 

John’s Wood and Rindoon. 

• Better direction signs for St John’s 

Wood and Rindoon. 

• St John’s National School needs a safe 

car park. 

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Potential Development 

There are a number of opportunity sites 

which were identified during the 

consultation process as possible sites for 

the future development of Lecarrow. 

These sites are indicative only and 

development of these sites will be 

dependant on a number of conditions such 

as the landowners intentions and planning 

permission from Roscommon County 

Council. Services such as water supply and 

sewerage will need to be considered as 

well as infrastructure such as roads 

footpaths and lighting. 

Opportunity Sites 

Site 1 

Site 2 

This site has potential for mixed 

use and commercial development 

with housing for the elderly and 

on-site parking, or as the location 

for a local park. 

Site No. 1 

The old Barracks has the potential 

for redevelopment as do other 

vacant or semi-derelict buildings 

within the Historic Core of the 

village. These buildings have 

potential for mixed use and 

waterway related uses. 

Site 3 

Site 4 

43 

This site has potential for mixed 

use and commercial development 

with housing for the elderly and 

on-site parking. 

The door of the old telephone box 

should be replaced. The phone 

could be disconnected and the box 

used as a display case for tourism 

or other local literature. 

Site 5 This site is part of the setting of 

Lecarrow Mill. It is important to 

maintain this site for future 

redevelopment of the Mill. 

Site 6 

Lecarrow Mill has the potential for 

redevelopment for tourism & 

waterway related activities such as 

tourist information, hostel, local 

arts & crafts, cafe etc. 

Site No. 6 


Site 7 This site is part of the setting of 

Lecarrow Mill. This landscaped 

area, located between the two 

streams, should be maintained. It 

could be used as a picnic area with 

benches and seating. 

Site 8 Lecarrow Canal has the potential 

for the extension of the Wildlife 

Sanctuary & a canal side walking 

route. 

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Site 9 This site has potential for river 

related activities and an amenity 

area. 

Site 10 This site has potential for a 

children's playground and amenity 

area. 

Site 11 Potential for pedestrian boardwalk 

along the east side of the bridge 

giving access to the Wildlife Area 

adjacent to the Harbour and Canal. 

Site 12 Lecarrow Courthouse has 

redevelopment potential as do 

similar vacant and semi-derelict 

buildings within the Historic Core 

of the village. These buildings have 

potential for mixed use and 

waterway related uses. 

Site No. 12 

Lecarrow Courthouse 

Site 13 This site has potential for mixed 

use development incorporating 

tourist accommodation and 

waterway related activity as well as 

housing for the elderly. 

Site 14 The ivy should be stripped back on 

the handball alley as a feature of 

interest which should be maintained 

and considered for reuse. 

Site 15 Nellie’s Rock is a feature of 

interest which should be 

maintained. The community have 

45 

put a lot of work into developing 

the site and putting up a tourist 

board. 

Site 16 This site has potential for mixed 

use development incorporating 

tourist accommodation and 

waterway related activity as well 

as housing for the elderly. 

Site 17 This is a potential cycle route 

extending from the village and 

incorporating views of Lough Ree 

and passing St Johns Woods close 

to Rindoon Castle. 

Site 18 This site is a potential location for 

any future enlargement of St 

John’s Soccer Club and pitches. 

Site 19 St John’s Holy Well is a feature of 

interest which should be 

maintained. 

Site No. 14 

Site No. 19 

The Handball Alley 

St John’s Well 

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Design Guidance 

Based on the information gathered by 

consulting with the community and 

analysing the village, the following Design 

Guidelines have been prepared. 

The aim of these guidelines is to preserve 

and enhance the important character 

features identified within the VDS and to 

encourage proposals for new development 

based upon a considered understanding of 

the unique character of Lecarrow. 

Village Structure 

1. The existing structure, shape and sense 

of enclosure created by built and 

natural features in Lecarrow should be 

respected as a product of the evolution 

of Lecarrow. As such, new 

development should not engulf or 

overwhelm the established settlement 

pattern. 

2. The setting and view of historically 

significant buildings should be 

preserved and respected when 

considering the design and location of 

new development. 

Landscape Character and Setting 

3. New developments should always be 

located to ensure that their visual 

impact on the landscape is minimal and 

complementary. 

4. Rooflines of structures should be kept 

below the height of the tree canopy. 

5. New development should not interfere 

with public views of scenic features, 

particularly the harbour, canal or lake. 

6. New development, infrastructure and 

land management should avoid direct 

or indirect damage to sites of known 

ecological interest, particularly the 

water courses. 

7. New developments should place an 

emphasis on native planting which 

have a high biodiversity value. 

8. In particular, mature trees enhance the 

rural setting of Lecarrow. It is 

important that such trees be respected 

and preserved. If development is 

proposed for lands containing such 

trees, the trees should be incorporated 

as key features within the new 

development. 

46 

Roads, Traffic & Services 

9. Traffic calming measures and the 

introduction of footpaths for pedestrian 

safety should be a high priority 


10. New or replacement street lighting 

should adopt best practice to reduce 

glare and light pollution. Where 

feasible, white down-lighting around 

residential areas is preferable. 

11. Ensure roads are well maintained 

including adequate drainage to reduce 

flooding. 

Maintaining the Existing Built Fabric 

12. Efforts should be made to refurbish 

existing buildings where possible, 

particularly the mill, courthouse and 

old barracks. 

13. Traditional features such as timber 

sliding sash windows and timber doors 

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should be retained and, where 

necessary, repaired. 

nearby colours, textures, styles and 

proportions. 

20. Traditional building styles, and natural 

and local materials should be used. 

14. Timber windows and doors with a 

painted finish are appropriate in the 

village. Reinstatement of traditional 

features which have been replaced 

with uPVC, aluminium or other 

inappropriate materials should be 

undertaken. 

New Development 

15. All new development should 

contribute to a sense of place 

16. All new development should be of a 

scale to reflect the character of 

Lecarrow. 

17. New residential development should 

consider housing for the elderly, 

where appropriate. 

18. All new development should avoid 

having houses of a similar design; new 

and imaginative designs which 

complement their surroundings, 

respect the character, pattern and 

tradition of existing places, are 

encouraged. 

19. Materials should fit in with the 

existing character of Lecarrow, and 

new development should respect 

21. Design proposals for new 

development should respect the local 

characteristics of existing buildings 

and the surrounding landscape, and by 

working with key features including 

the existing contours of the land and 

established boundaries. Development 

should be adapted to the site, rather 

than the site adapted to the 

development. 

22. The insertion of shopfronts, where 

desired, should be completed with 

reference to the scale, proportions, 

colours, and materials of the building 

and it’s surroundings. 

23. A large private open space should be 

made available to each new house, the 

22 metre separation (first floor 

windows) used in suburban design is 

not appropriate for a village 

environment, 3 metre separation 

between sides of buildings and side 

boundaries. 

24. The length of access roads serving 

small groups of houses should be 

minimised, huge areas of the site 

should not be taken up with internal 

roadways trying to maximise house 

numbers. 

25. A high level of architectural design 

and integration with surroundings is 

encouraged. 

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26. Construction should be limited to 

bungalows, 1.5-storey and low 2- 

storey (non elevated sites). 

27. Apartments and terraced type 

construction is not appropriate. 

28. Local place names or geographical 

names should be used for new 

developments. 

Sustainable Tourism 

29. The development of sustainable 

tourism accommodation in the form 

of a hotel , B & B and conversion of 

existing rural outbuildings is 

promoted. 

30. Holiday villages, apartment 

complexes are not appropriate. 

Biodiversity 

31. Wildlife should be preserved and 

encouraged through: 

• the retention and improvement of 

features such as hedgerows, trees, 

ponds and watercourses; 

• the active discouragement of 

draining and filling-in of field 

ponds; 

• the appropriate management of 

existing woodland and hedgerows. 

32. Consideration should be given to 

coordinating the protection and 

stimulation of wildlife habitats 


33. Missing hedgerows should be replaced 

wherever possible. Landowners 

should be encouraged to take up 

available grants. 

34. Trees and hedgerows should be 

protected against damage during 

the course of any construction and 

development works. 

35. Where visually significant trees are 

on privately owned land, owners 

should be encouraged to care for 

them appropriately. 

36. Protect verges, hedges and roadside 

grass areas from redevelopment. 

48 

Local Community 

37. Efforts should be made to retain 

and, where possible, enhance 

existing community facilities in 

Lecarrow. 

38. Improved public transport facilities to 

and from Lecarrow, including an 

official bus stop, should be 

encouraged. 

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Community Action 

During the preparation of this Draft VDS, 

many suggestions were made for the future 

enhancement of the village. Below is a list 

of specific projects which were suggested. 

This list provides motivation for the 

community, the local authority and others 

to ensure that the village develops 

appropriately into the future. 

No. Action Delivery / Lead Agency 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

Improve the turning lane and 

access into and out of the village 

Implement traffic calming along 

the N61 and back roads 

Upgrade and resurface the main 

road through the village and 

provide improved road markings 

Provide appropriate footpaths 

and public street lighting 


Provide picnic benches, covered 

barbeque facilities at the harbour 

or at St John's Community 

Centre, seating and a picnic area 

at Nellie's Rock 

Redevelop and re-use vacant and 

semi-derelict buildings and 

features of the village, such as 

the Mill, the Courthouse and the 

Handball Alley 

Upgrade existing broadband 

services in the village and 

surroundings 

Provide a boardwalk west of the 

existing bridge 

Provide new walk and cycleway 

along the Canal and Mill Stream 

Provide a cycle route from the 

village to St John's Wood and 

Rindoon 

Roscommon County Council, 

National Roads Authority, 

Development Contributions 










Roscommon County Council 

Lecarrow Development 

Association 


Private Developers 

St John's Parish Heritage Group 


Association 

DSL Service Providers, 


Roscommon County 

Development Board 



Association 



Association 



Association 

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Possible Sources of 

Funding 

National Development Plan 

2007-2013, National Roads 

Authority (NRA), 















Waterways Ireland, 

Community Fundraising 

Rural Development Programme 

Ireland 2007-2013, 

Local Authority Conservation 

Grants, The Heritage Council, 

Mid Shannon Tourism 

Investment Scheme, 



2007-2013, Rural Development 

Programme Ireland 2007-2013, 


Roscommon County 

Development Board 


Ireland 2007-2013, 




Ireland 2007-2013, 




Ireland 2007-2013, 



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No. Action Delivery / Lead Agency Possible Sources of Funding 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

Provide a nature trail and 

playground at St John's Wood 

and Rindoon 

Provide a viewing area at 

Carrownamanagh to allow cars 

to pull in and view Lough Ree 

Maintain the Canal and Harbour 

free of weeds and campaign to 

have it reopened to all boats and 

cruisers 

Provide more litter bins 

throughout the village especially 

at the harbour and along the road 

to St John's National School 

Provide additional community 

facilities including a park and 

playground 

Provide screening and 

landscaping, where appropriate, 

for example to screen the water 

pumping station next to the Mill 

Redevelop the telephone box as 

a display case for tourism and 

local literature 

Provide a car park at St John's 

National School 

Promote tourism in the area by 

providing improved tourism 

signage and tourism initiatives 

in the area 

Provide facilities for the renting 

of bicycles in the village 

Remove the tap at the head of 

the Harbour road, at the bridge 

Provide ‘No Swimming’ signs at 

the Harbour 

Private Developer 



Association 

National Trails Office 



Association 

OPW 


Waterways Ireland 


Association 



Association 



Association 



Association 


St John's Parish Heritage Group 

Community Association 

Eircom 

Department of Education 


St John's NS Board of Education 



Association 



Association 




Association 



Association 

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Private Developer, 


Ireland 2007-2013, 


Community Fundraising, 

The Walks Scheme 


Ireland 2007-2013, 



OPW, 


Ireland 2007-2013, 




Environment Section, 

Failte Ireland, 



Ireland 2007-2013, 




Ireland 2007-2013, 


Community Fund Raising 


Ireland 2007-2013, 


Eircom, Heritage Council 

funding, Community Fundraising 

Department of Education, 




Ireland 2007-2013, 


Local Authority Conservation 

Grants, Community Fundraising 







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National Conservation Grants Scheme 

Operated by Roscommon County Council 

for repairs and conservation to protected 

structures (occasionally for non-protected 

structures). Grants up to 50% to a 

maximum of €13,500, and in special 

circumstances up to 75% and €25,000. 

Further information and application forms 

available on www.roscommoncoco.ie, or 

from Customer Service, Courthouse, 

Roscommon, Tel. 090 6632500 or Forward 

Planning, Golf links Road, Roscommon. 

Closing date for 2009 is 4.00p.m. Friday 

30 th January 2009. 

Heritage Council – Buildings at Risk 

Scheme 

Operated by the Heritage Council for 

repairs to historic buildings. Grants range 

roughly from €5,000 - €25,000. Further 

information and application forms 

available on www.heritagecouncil.ie, and 

from The Heritage Council, Aras an 

hOidhreachta, Church Lane, Kilkenny, Tel. 

056 7770777. Check with The Heritage 

Council for 2009 closing date. 

DOE Civic Structures Grants Scheme 

Operated by the Department of the 

Environment, Heritage and Local 

Government. Local Authority may have 

some input. For works of repair and 

conservation to protected structures which 

are in public ownership or open to the 

public generally. Applications must be 

accompanied by conservation report to 

high standard. Grants range from €10,000 - 

€50,000 euro. Further information and 

application forms available on 

www.environ.ie, or through Roscommon 

County Council Conservation Officer. Tel. 

090 6632500. Closing date varies each 

year, in period from mid-November to 

mid-February. 

DOE Thatching Grant 

Operated by the Department of the 


Government. Local Authority may have 

some input. For works of renovation to 

thatched roofs which are at least 10 years 

old. The house must be in use as a normal 

place of residence (holiday homes are not 

eligible). A grant of two thirds of the 

approved cost, up to a maximum of 

€3,810, is available. Further information 

and application forms available on 

www.environ.ie, or from the Housing 

Grants Section, Department of the 


Government, Government Buildings, 

Ballina, Co. Mayo. Tel: (096) 24200 

LOCALL 1890 30 50 30, Fax: (096) 

24313. No closing date. 

DOE Surplus Funds 

Excess monies not spent by the 

Department of the Environment, Heritage 

and Local Government are channelled 

through the local authorities’ Conservation 

Officers / Heritage Officers and through 

The Heritage Council for conservation 

works. Available roughly October to 

November; must be spent by end 

November. Because of the short time-scale 

the monies tend to be distributed to 

projects already within the National 

Conservation Grants scheme and other 

projects. Awards granted up to €25,000. 

Further Information from Roscommon 

County Council Conservation Officer, Tel. 

090 6632500. 

DOE Special Funds 

Monies granted by the Department of the 


Government to special projects with largescale 

one-off expenditure. Amounts range 

from €100,000s to €millions. Often given 

to churches or large country houses. 

Contact them directly or via local 

politicians. No closing date, no application 

form. 

Traditional Farm buildings - REPS 4 – 

New Scheme 

Operated by the Heritage Council for the 

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Department of Agriculture; for REPS 4 

farmers only; for the repair and 

conservation of traditional farm 

outbuildings, not main residence. Grants 

will range from approx. €5,000 - €25,000 

up to 75% of cost of works. Expect to fund 

40 projects nationwide. Not allowed to be 

combined with other grants funded by the 

Exchequer. Further information and 


www.heritagecouncil.ie, and from The 

Heritage Council, Aras an hOidhreachta, 

Church Lane, Kilkenny, Tel. 056 7770777. 

Check with The Heritage Council for 2009 

closing date. 

Irish Georgian Society – Grants. 

Operated by the Irish Georgian Society for 

repair and conservation of special aspects 

of our heritage from all eras (not just 

Georgian). No monies in 2008 as are 

concentrating all their funds on Headfort 

House. May re-open for new applications 

in 2009. Further information and 

application forms from the Irish Georgian 

Society, 74 Merrion Square, Dublin 2. Tel: 

01 676 7053. Email: info@igs.ie 

Revenue - Section 482 

Operated by the Revenue Commissioners 

under Section 482 of the Taxes 

Consolidation Act, 1997. Tax relief for 

expenditure on repair, maintenance or 

restoration work to historic properties and 

gardens. Must have taxable income. An 

approved garden may operate 

independently of a building. Main 

condition is that the building or garden is 

open to the public for a minimum of 60 

days a year, 40 of which have to be 

between 1 May – 30 September; a 

reasonable entrance fee may be charged. 

Five sites in Roscommon currently 

benefiting from this - Castlecoote, Clonalis 

House, King House, Shannonbridge 

Fortifications and Strokestown Park 

House. Useful for historic buildings whose 

normal business involves being open to the 

public, such as a shop, pub, gallery or 

artist’s studio. Further information and 


www.revenue.ie. No closing date. 

Revenue - Commercial property – tax 

relief 

Operated by the Revenue Commissioners 

as tax relief on income generated from 

property in respect of capital expenditure 

on property. Information on 

www.revenue.ie. 

Roscommon County Council - Essential 

Repairs - Housing Aid for Older People 

Operated by the Housing Section of 

Roscommon County Council for repairs 

and renovation to houses where the owner 

is 60 years of age or older and is living in 

poor housing conditions (e.g. leaky roof). 

It covers structural repairs or 

improvements, re-wiring, repairs to or 

replacement of windows and doors, the 

provision of heating, water and sanitary 

services, cleaning and painting. The level 

of grant aid is based on the gross 

household income. It covers between 30% 

- 100% of the approved cost of the works 

subject to a maximum grant of €10,500. 

Further information and application forms 


from the Housing Department, 

Roscommon County Council, Roscommon 

West Business Park, Roscommon. Tel. 090 

6637238 / 6637239. No closing date. 

Roscommon County Council – Disability 

Grants - Housing Adaptation Grant & 

Mobility Aids Grant 

Two schemes operated by the Housing 

Section of Roscommon County Council for 

works of adaptation to a house for a 

disabled person and to provide mobility 

aids, such as ramps and stair-lifts, to a 

house for a disabled person, who has an 

enduring physical, sensory, mental health 

or intellectual impairment. Further 

information and application forms 


from the Housing Department, 

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West Business Park, Roscommon. Tel. 090 

6637238 / 6637239. No closing date in 

Roscommon. 

Roscommon County Council - Housing 

Improvement Loan 

Operated by the Housing Section of 

Roscommon County Council, providing 

loans for works of renovation or 

improvement to owners-occupiers. They 

are subject to a maximum of €38,000 for 

Secured Loans and €15,000 for Unsecured 

Loans. Further information and application 

forms on www.roscommoncoco.ie, or from 

Housing Department, Roscommon County 

Council, Roscommon West Business Park, 

Roscommon. Tel. 090 6637238 / 6637239. 

No closing date in Roscommon. 

Roscommon County Council - 

Community and Amenity Fund 

Operated by the Community and 

Enterprise Section of Roscommon County 

Council for local community groups and 

voluntary organisations. The aim is to 

enhance local services, social inclusion, 

economic activity and the quality of life for 

local people. Where a historic building is 

concerned it must be used by one or more 

community groups and could fund works 

of repair and improvement. Grants up to 

€5,000; €12,750 in exceptional 

circumstances. Further information and 


www.roscommoncoco.ie, or from 

Community and Enterprise Section, 


West Business Park, Circular Road, 

Roscommon. Tel. 090 6637316 Fax. 

0906637323 Check with the Housing 

Section for 2009 closing date. 

Roscommon County Council – Cemetery 

Improvement Grant Scheme 

Operated by the Roads Department of 

Roscommon County Council for local 

community groups and voluntary 

organisations to carry out works of 

maintenance and improvement to public 

graveyards. Includes the purchase of 

mowing machines. Input from 

Conservation Officer and / or Heritage 

Officer where cemeteries are of historic or 

heritage value. Grants roughly up to 

€5,000. Further information and 

application forms available from Customer 

Services, Courthouse, Roscommon, Tel. 

090 6632500. Check with the Roads 

Department / Customer Services for 2009 

closing date. 

Roscommon County Council - Reduction 

in Development Contributions for 

Protected Structures 

Operated by the Planning Department of 

Roscommon County Council. Where a 

protected structure applies for planning 

permission it benefits from a 75% 

reduction in development contributions 

where the ‘restoration or refurbishment’ of 

the building is carried out to a ‘high 

architectural standard’. No contributions 

for internal and smaller-scale renovation 

works. Due for review soon. 

Part L exemption and BER exemption for 

Protected Structures 

Protected structures are exempt from 

compliance with Part L (Conservation of 

Fuel and Energy) of the Building 

Regulations. They also do not require a 

BER (Building Energy Rating) certificate 

when being sold, leased or rented. 

New Churches/Cathedrals grant 

Coming on stream in 2009. Operated by 

The Heritage Council for repairs to 

churches and cathedral, generally of 

national significance. Contact The Heritage 

Council, Aras an hOidhreachta, Church 

Lane, Kilkenny. Tel. 056 7770777. 

CLAR 

Operated by the Department of 

Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. 

This is a targeted investment programme in 

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rural areas, complementing the various 

RAPID programmes. CLÁR provides 

funding and co-funding to Government 

Departments, State Agencies and Local 

Authorities in accelerating investment in 

selected priority developments. These 

investments support physical, economic 

and social infrastructure across a variety of 

measures. For Further details contact the 

Dept of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht 

Affairs, or www.pobail.ie/en/ 

RAPIDandCLR 

RAPID 

Operated by the Department of 

Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. 

It is a targeted investment programme for 

disadvantaged urban areas. RAPID 11 is 

the programme for provincial towns. Both 

programmes provides funding and cofunding 

to Government Departments, State 

Agencies and Local Authorities in 

accelerating investment in selected priority 

developments. These investments support 

physical, economic and social 

infrastructure across a variety of measures. 

For Further details contact the Dept of 

Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, 

or www.pobail.ie/en/RAPIDandCLR 

LEADER 

Aid under the various LEADER 

programmes may take the form of support 

for the following measures; 

• Training; 

• Analysis and Development; 

• Innovative rural enterprises, craft 

enterprises and local services / facilities 

• Exploitation of agriculture, forestry and 

fisheries products; 

• Enhancement of natural / built / social / 

cultural environment; 

• Environmentally friendly initiatives; 

• Animation and capacity building. 

Further information on www.pobail.ie/en/ 

RuralDevelopment/LEADER 

The Walks Scheme 

Operated by the National Trails Office of 

the Sports Council on behalf of the 

Department of Community, Rural and 

Gaeltacht Affairs with the co-operation of 

the new Rural Recreation Officers 

appointed by LEADER. It pays landowners 

an annual fee up to a maximum of €3,000 

for carrying out maintenance to their land 

which forms part of a designated public 

walk. Useful from a conservation point of 

view for property owners who have 

heritage sites and allow access to them, as 

long as they are part of a walk designated 

by the National Trails Office. Contact the 

National Trails Office of the Sports 

Council, Tel. 01 8608823. 

Heritage Council Grants Scheme 

Operated by the Heritage Council, the aim 

of the grant programme is to encourage 

and enable people throughout Ireland to 

enjoy, record, conserve, restore and 

celebrate the distinctive qualities of their 

local heritage, their community, and their 

environment. Projects being considered for 

2009 include local heritage, biodiversity, 

archaeology, publications, architecture 

research, and museums and archives. Grant 

Schemes for 2009 include the following: 

• Archaeology Research 

• Architectural Research 

• Local Heritage–for gathering 

information, holdings seminars / 

training courses, education / 

community / outreach purposes and 

other projects 

• Museums and Archives – many aspects 

• Publications – submit complete draft 

text 

• Wildlife Research 

• Biodiversity Fund 

The closing date for receipt of application 

is 5.00pm Friday 14 th November 2008. For 

further details and a grants programme pack 

contact The Heritage Council, Aras an 


056 7770777, or download from 

www.heritagecouncil.ie/grants/index.html 

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Buildings at Risk Scheme 

At present, Heritage Council funding is 

fully committed under this scheme. The 

next round of funding is for project works 

2010. The scheme will re-open for 

applications in January 2009. Only 

essential repairs to an existing roof will be 

considered for funding. A grant allocation 

can cover up to 50% of the project cost and 

can be used in conjunction with grants 

from other sources. Closing date for receipt 

of applications for 2010 funding is 31 st 

March 2009. For further details contact 

The Heritage Council, Aras an 


056 7770777, or the Heritage Council 

Website: www.heritagecouncil.ie/grants/ 

index.html 

Mid Shannon Tourism Investment 

Scheme 

This is a tax measure aimed at stimulating 

and encouraging sustainable investment 

along the River Shannon Corridor. The 

central objective is the sustainable 

development of new tourism infrastructure, 

or the refurbishment of existing tourism 

infrastructure, with a view to increasing the 

inflow of tourist visitors to the area. there 

is no required minimum investment or 

spend in order to qualify, except in the case 

of refurbishment where a minimum of 20% 

of the market value of a building or 

structure must be expended in the 

qualifying period. Eligible works are as 

follows: 

• Education tourism facilities; 

• Visitor attractions / centres; 

• Cultural facilities; 

• Wellness and self development 

amenities and facilities; 

• Equestrian facilities; 

• Facilities for water-sports activities; 

• Training facilities for adventure 

activities and / or simulated facilities; 

• Facilities for boat rental and inland 

cruising; 

• Outdoor activity centres; 

• Certain restaurants and cafés; 

• Registered holiday camps. 

Further information and application form 

on www.failteireland.ie/Developing- 

Enterprises/Investment–Support/ 

TaxSchemes, or contact Fáilte Ireland, Tel. 

01 6024283. Closing date is 31 st May 2009. 

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Housing Section (RCC) 

Christina Fannon, 

Administrative Officer, 

Housing Section, 


Roscommon West Business Park, 


Tel: 090 6637230 

Email:cfannon@roscommon.ie 

Planning Section (RCC) 

Fiona Fallon, 

Staff Officer, 

Planning Section, 


Golf Links Road, 

Roscommon, 

Tel: 090 6637229 

Email: ffallon@roscommoncoco.ie 

Water Services Section (RCC) 

Patricia Bohan, 

Administrative Officer 

Water Services, 


Time House, Abbey House, 

Roscommon 

Tel: 090 6637165 

Email: pbohan@roscommoncoco.ie 

Roads Section (RCC) 

Anne Harkins, 

Senior Staff Officer, 

Roads Section, 


The Courthouse, 


Tel: 090 6637171 

Email: aharkins@roscommoncoco.ie 

National Roads Authority (NRA) 

Brid Ward 

NRA, 

Regional Design Offices, 

Court Avenue, 


Tel: 090 6637451 

Email: brward@roscommoncoco.ie 

The Heritage Council 

The Heritage Council, 

Aras an hOidhreachta, 

Church Lane, 

Kilkenny 

Tel: 056 7770777 

Email: mail@heritagecouncil.com 

The Department of the Environment, 

Heritage and Local Government 

DoEHLG 

Custom House, 

Dublin 1 

Tel: LoCall 1890 202021 or 01 8882000 

Website: www.environ.ie 

Mid-South Leader 

Mid-South Roscommon Rural 

Development Company, 

Curraghboy, Athlone 

County Roscommon. 

Tel: 090 6488292 

Email: info@southrosleader.ie 

Irish Georgian Society 

Irish Georgian Society, 

74 Merrion Square, 

Dublin 2 

Tel: 01 6767053 

Email: info@igs.ie 

Revenue Commissioners 

The Revenue Commissioners, 

Customer Services, 

Hibernian House, 

Eyre Square, 

Galway 

Tel: 091 536000 

Email: galwayroscommon@revenue.ie 

Department of Community, Rural and 

Gaeltacht Affairs 

Pobal, 

Holbrook House, 

Holles Street, Dublin 2. 

Tel: 01 4484888 

Email: www.pobal.ie or www.pobail.ie 

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National Trails Office 

Cormac MacDonnell, 

Programme Executive, 

National Trails Office, 

Irish Sports Council, 

Top Floor, Block A, 

Westend Office Park 

Blanchardstown 

Dublin 15 

Tel: 01 8608800 or 01 8608823 

Email: cmacdonnell@irishsportscouncil.ie 


Waterways Ireland, 

Operations Western Region, 

Dock Road, Drewsborough, 

Scarriff, County Clare 

Tel: 061 922033 

Email: info@waterwaysireland.org 

Bus Eireann 

Bus Éireann, 

Broadstone, Dublin 7 

Tel: 01 8302222 

Email: info@buseireann.ie 

Fáilte Ireland 

Fáilte Ireland West Region, 

Áras Fáilte, 

Forster Street, 

Galway 

Tel: 091 537700 

Email: irelandwestinfo@failteireland.ie 

Department of Education and Science 

Department of Education and Science, 

Victoria Place, 

Eyre Square, 

Galway 

Tel: LoCall 1890 402040 or 091 864500 

Email: wro@education.gov.ie 

Eircom 

Eircom Head Office, 

St Stephen's Green West, 

Dublin 2 

Tel: 01 6714444 

E-mail: info@eircom.ie 

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This Village Design Statement (VDS), was undertaken in 

partnership with the community of Lecarrow, and was produced by 

Roscommon County Council. 

Roscommon County Council would like to acknowledge the support 

and the role of the elected Steering Group in Lecarrow during the 

Consultation Process. Also thanks to Dermot Kelly for his photos of 

Lecarrow Harbour which may be found on the Front Cover and 

within this document. 

For Further Information, please contact 


Customer Service, 

The Court House, 


Telephone No: 0906637100 

Fax No: 0906637108 

www.roscommoncoco.ie 

October 2008

Final Lecarrow Village Design Statement - Roscommon County ...

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